OZARK…Mr. Earl Childree, a resident of Ozark, died late Sunday evening, June 7, 2026, in the Enterprise Health & Rehabilitation Center. He was 84.
Celebration of Life Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, June 14, 2026, in the Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Dr. Jason Thrower officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Ridge Baptist Cemetery, Arguta Community. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Habitat for Humanity or to the Ozark-Dale County Humane Society, PO Box 2502, Ozark, Alabama 36361.
Mr. Childree, the son of the late Judge Howard Childree and Lydia Paulk Childree, was born and raised in the close‑knit Arguta Community of Dale County. He carried the values of that small community with him throughout his life—hard work, loyalty, and a deep love for family. He graduated from Carroll High School in 1959, and not long after, he answered the call to serve his country by joining the United States Army. He was proud to be a veteran of the Vietnam Era, and that experience shaped him in ways he carried quietly but firmly for the rest of his life.
After his military service, he began a long and dedicated career with the Army Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), where he worked for thirty‑three years and eventually retired as the Director of Purchasing. During those years, he also earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Dallas Baptist University.
Life took him many places, and he embraced each one. He lived in Thailand, Hawaii, and Texas, making friends and memories wherever he went. But in 1993, he chose to come home to Ozark, where his roots ran deepest. After retiring, he found joy in farming. Working the land brought him peace, purpose, and a sense of connection to the place he loved most.
He had a special place in his heart for his dogs, loving them as dearly as family. Anyone who knew him knew how much happiness they brought into his life. He was also a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church of Ozark, where he found fellowship and community.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Darren Childree, and his niece, Marilyn Mitchell.
Mr. Childree will be remembered for his gentle spirit, his steady presence, and the quiet strength he carried through every chapter of his life. His story is one of service, dedication, and love—for his family, his country, and the simple joys that made his days full.
Surviving relatives include his wife of fifty-seven years, Bethene Jackson Childree, Ozark; two sons, David Childree (Nenita), Matthews, North Carolina and Phillip Childree (Stephanie), Wise, Virginia; granddaughter, Christin Strickland; great-granddaughter, Aspyn Hope Strickland; four sisters, Dixie Childree, Enterprise, Norma Mitchell (Gene Mitchell), Ozark, Jan Sawyer (Dr. Sam Sawyer), Enterprise, and Linda Cook (Don Cook), Dothan; nieces, nephews, and cousins.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
